Abstract
Large-scale landslides at volcanic islands are one of the most dangerous geological phenomena, able to generate tsunamis whose effects can propagate far from the source. However, related deposits are scarcely preserved on-land in the geologic records, and are often difficult to be interpreted. Here we show the discovery of three unprecedented well-preserved tsunami deposits related to repeated flank collapses of the volcanic island of Stromboli (Southern Italy) occurred during the Late Middle Ages. Based on carbon datings, on stratigraphic, volcanological and archaeological evidence, we link the oldest, highest-magnitude investigated tsunami to the following rapid abandonment of the island which was inhabited at that time, contrary than previously thought. The destructive power of this event is also possibly related to a huge marine storm that devastated the ports of Naples in 1343 (200 km north of Stromboli) described by the famous writer Petrarch. The portrayed devastation can be potentially attributed to the arrival of multiple tsunami waves generated by a major landslide in Stromboli island, confirming the hypothetical hazard of these phenomena at a regional scale.
Highlights
A coordinated archaeological-volcanological research project was launched in 2016 to investigate the events that took place on the island in the Late Middle Ages
We bring to light that the present community of Stromboli, together with the communities settling the southern coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea, are exposed to a much higher tsunami hazard than previously thought
If our combination of geological, archaeological and carbon datings with the possible tsunami events described in the chronicles is correct, the height of expected tsunami waves is able to reach and devastate the present port structures and settled coasts of Campania, Calabria, and Sicily
Summary
A coordinated archaeological-volcanological research project was launched in 2016 to investigate the events that took place on the island in the Late Middle Ages. Based on carbon datings and archaeological evidence, we speculate that historical documents describing huge marine storms and devastation in the far-field (Naples and Amalfi, 200 km north of Stromboli island), can be potentially attributed to the arrival of tsunami waves generated at Stromboli. While for the two youngest tsunami www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Events the attribution is not conclusive, the poorly understood, sea storm witnessed in the port of Naples by the writer Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca) on November 25, 13432, was likely attributable to the oldest discovered tsunami whose origin can be placed at Stromboli and which induced the rapid abandonment of the island
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